"Director, VLEST Core Instrument Facility"

Director, VLEST Core Instrument Facility

Job Profile Title: Director B, Research

Job Description Summary: The University of Pennsylvania is seeking a highly qualified, motivated, and customer service-oriented scientist with extensive experience in surface-sensitive spectroscopic and thin-film characterization techniques.

The University of Pennsylvania is seeking a highly qualified, motivated, and customer service-oriented scientist with extensive experience in surface-sensitive spectroscopic and thin-film characterization techniques. This new position will have primary responsibility for the optimal operation, maintenance, budgeting, user training and support, user community building, and collaborative strategic planning for the surface, thin-film, and soft matter characterization instrumentation located in the Core Instrumentation Facilities of the Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology (VLEST). Current instruments for which this position is responsible are a J.A. Woollam IR-VASE Mark II Ellipsometer; TA Instruments Multi-Sample X3 DSC, Discovery TGA 5500+, and ARES-GS Rotational Rheometer (all newly acquired and installed in 2025), and a PHI Genesis Scanning XPS/AES system anticipated to be installed in 2026. Additional instrumentation, supported by the scientist's initiative, vision, and collaborative proposal writing efforts, is envisioned to be added in the future.

Job Responsibilities

• Ensure optimal operation, maintenance and user support for surface, thin-film and soft matter characterization instrumentation in the VLEST Core Instrumentation Facility.
• Create, modify, and/or maintain methods and supporting documentation for training and standard operating procedures (SOPs) on instrumentation and site-specific safety protocols. Develop and disseminate new instrumentation methods, independently or collaboratively with the user community.
• Provide on-site user support, troubleshoot and resolve technical issues, including during extended hours outside regular business hours.
• Train and support users on instruments, including hands-on instruction in effective experimental design, software features, and data analysis.
• Liaise with campus partners to build an interactive community of internal and external (including industry) users, collaborators, PIs, and staff to enhance fee-for-service capabilities.
• Proactively keep abreast of new developments and emerging technologies in surface analysis, materials characterization, and related fields. Make recommendations for upgrades and new equipment to support the facility and users' needs. Participate in proposal-writing efforts to secure funding for acquisitions.
• Participate collaboratively in the submission of research publications, presentations, and intellectual property development resulting from facility use.
• Maintain a clean and safe working environment and culture in the facility.

Qualifications

• Minimum degree requirement: PhD in a physical science or engineering discipline that utilizes experimental surface and thin-film characterization techniques.
• Minimum of 1-3 years of hands-on experience with photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning auger electron spectroscopy, or other closely related vacuum-based electron spectroscopic methods and instrumentation. This should include the demonstrated ability to operate and maintain surface science instrumentation and ultra-high vacuum equipment, prepare samples, collect data, analyze data, troubleshoot issues, and perform routine maintenance.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt and be a quick learner in a past academic or professional setting.
• Excellent communication and training skills, with the demonstrated ability to clearly explain complex concepts to others.
• Strong organizational and management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and people simultaneously.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to troubleshoot and resolve technical issues.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum of 1 year of hands-on experience with spectroscopic ellipsometry sample preparation, data collection, data analysis, and instrument troubleshooting.
• Experience with soft matter characterization techniques such as rheology or thermogravimetric analysis.
• Experience with equipment purchasing and ordering, including researching and evaluating vendors, equipment options, and service contracts.
• Expert-level knowledge of the theories and principles of solid-state materials structure, properties and characterization.
• Familiarity with relevant software and experience with data analysis and interpretation.

Job Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School: School of Arts and Sciences

Pay Range: $79,500.00 - $100,000.00 Annual Rate

To apply: https://wd1.myworkdaysite.com/en-US/recruiting/upenn/careers-at-penn/job/Vagelos-Research-Labs/Director--VLEST-Core-Instrument-Facility_JR00114274